A friend on a group text thread said it best, “Downtown was paralyzed today” as word spread of the F/V Lily Jean. Gloucester is defined by its deep-rooted, perilous, and enduring fishing heritage…. a town that breathes the sea, where people know intimately the dangers faced by those who work on the ocean. As the Fishermen’s Statue reads, “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”
The loss of a fishing vessel and potentially its crew is felt by the entire city……those who are from here, those who live here, those who visit the waterfront…… Certainly those whose families have worked in the industry feel it the most…..they feel it to their core….they live it, breathe it, and have feared it themselves. But, even those who have no ties to the industry, have a quieter respect for those roots. They understand that those fishermen are, indeed, Gloucester. Graduates pose in front of the Fishermen’s Statue, our hometown sports teams wear the fisherman logo proudly, children are raised listening to books about boats, and fishing, and salty legends….. Nods to the city’s fishermen are everywhere. It would be impossible to enjoy time on the water or days on the waterfront and not appreciate those who work, tirelessly, to fight to keep Gloucester’s industry and maritime heritage alive.
I do not know the crew of the F/V Lily Jean, but I hope more than anything that their family and loved ones can feel the the tide of respect and gratitude rising around them. As they face this heartbreaking uncertainty, I hope they know that the work and the courage of their loved ones are honored by every one who calls this coast home….and the city’s thoughts and prayers run deep.
Chris Langathianos said it well, “when you live here, and when you spend your  summertime on the water, it’s different. We eat, drink, and hang at the same places. You know each other even if you don’t.” I took the first photo I posted below of the Lily Jean while on Chris and Jamie‘s boat last summer. We were out enjoying a day on the water, hoping to see some whales or sharks…. while their crew was, as always, heading out for a hard day’s work.  We all share this city. But, they are this city. 
Childhood memories of the Blessing of the Fleet, breaking champagne on the bow of my godfather’s fishing boat, The Italian Gold, and spending holidays and weekends with my father’s friend’s family who fished the American Eagle….(and had a home full of italian cookies and a sign by their pool that read, “We don’t swim in your toilet, please don’t pee in our pool”) no doubt impacted how I raised my own boys with salt in their veins. I have watched vessels leaving the harbor in the cold, dark winter months for decades with such respect….and sadness. And now wake up, look out my living room window each morning, and watch in awe as the State Fish Pier hustles and bustles and boats come and go on the coldest of days.
Fishermen don’t fear the elements, they fear the silence after a boat doesn’t come home.
Good Morning Gloucester 